At that time a blind man came to lodge at the inn, who, seeing that I would do to lead him, asked for me from my mother. She gave me to him, saying that I was the son of a good father, and boasting that he had been killed at the Island of Gelves. She told the blind man that she trusted in God that I would not turn out a worse man than my father, and she begged him to treat me well and look after me, as I was an orphan. He answered that he would do so, and that he received me not as his servant but as his son. Thus it was that I began to serve and to lead my new master. We were in Salamanca for some days, but, as the earnings were not to my master’s liking, he determined to go somewhere else. When we were about to depart, I went to see my mother, and, both weeping, she gave me her blessing and said, “I shall see you no more. Strive to be good, and may God direct your ways. You have been brought up and are now put with a good master. Farewell!” And so I went away to my master who was waiting for me.

We went out of Salamanca and came to the bridge. There is, at the entrance of it, an animal of stone which almost has the shape of a bull. The blind man told me to go near this animal, and, being there, he said, “Lazaro, put your ear against this bull, and you will hear a great noise inside.” I did so, like a simpleton, believing it to be as he said. When he felt that my head was against the stone, he raised his hand and gave me a tremendous blow against the devil of a bull, so that I felt the pain for more than three days. Then he said to me, “This will teach you that a blind man’s boy ought to be one point more knowing than the devil himself”; and he laughed heartily at his joke. It seemed to me that, in an instant, I awoke from my simplicity in which I had reposed from childhood. I said to myself, “This man says truly that it behooves me to keep my eyes open, for I am alone and have to think for myself.”

From “The Life of Lazarillo of Tormes,” by Anonymous

Published in Spain in 1554, this novel recounts the life of a boy who served as a blind man’s guide.  His anticlerical content prompted the author to remain anonymous. It is one of the most beautiful literary works of Spanish literature. At some point in our lives, we all come to the same conclusion as Lazarillo: “I awoke from my simplicity in which I had reposed from childhood. I said to myself, ‘This man says truly that it behooves me to keep my eyes open, for I am alone and have to think for myself.”’

Happy Thanksgiving!!

ADDENDUM,

Original text:

En este tiempo vino a posar al mesón un ciego, el cual, pareciéndole que yo sería para adestralle, me pidió a mi madre, y ella me encomendó a él, diciéndole como era hijo de un buen hombre, el cual por ensalzar la fe había muerto en la de los Gelves, y que ella confiaba en Dios no saldría peor

hombre que mi padre, y que le rogaba me tratase bien y mirase por mí, pues era huérfano. Él le respondió que así lo haría y que me recibía, no por mozo, sino por hijo. Y así le comencé a servir y adestrar a mi nuevo y viejo amo.

Como estuvimos en Salamanca algunos días, pareciéndole a mi amo que no era la ganancia a su contento, determinó irse de allí; y cuando nos hubimos de partir, yo fui a ver a mi madre, y, ambos llorando, me dio su bendición y dijo:

—Hijo, ya sé que no te veré más. Procura ser bueno, y Dios te guíe. Criado te he y con buen amo te he puesto: válete por ti.

Y así me fui para mi amo, que esperándome estaba. Salimos de Salamanca, y, llegando a la puente, está a la entrada de ella un animal de piedra, que casi tiene forma de toro, y el ciego mandome que llegase cerca del animal y, allí puesto, me dijo:

—Lázaro, llega el oído a este toro y oirás gran ruido dentro de él.

Yo simplemente llegué, creyendo ser así. Y como sintió que tenía la cabeza par de la piedra, afirmó recio la mano y diome una gran calabazada en el diablo del toro, que más de tres días me duró el dolor de la cornada, y díjome:

—Necio, aprende, que el mozo del ciego un punto ha de saber más que el diablo. —Y rio mucho la burla.

Parecióme que en aquel instante desperté de la simpleza en que, como niño, dormido estaba. Dije entre mí: «Verdad dice éste, que me cumple avivar el ojo y avisar, pues solo soy, y pensar cómo me sepa valer».